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Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah built the monument in 1591 shortly after he had shifted his capital from Golkonda to what now is known as [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]][http://www.aponline.gov.in/Quick%20links/HIST-CULT/architecture_qut.html A.P. Government: Charminar]. Legend has it that the building honors a promise Quli Qutb Shah made to Allah. He supposedly had prayed for the end of a plague and vowed that he would build a [[masjid]] on that very place. The masjid became popularly known as Charminar because of its four (Farsi ''char'' = four) minarets (''Minar'' (Arabic manara) = spire/tower), which possibly honor the [[Rashidun|first four caliph]]s of [[Islam]]. The actual masjid occupies the top floor of the four-story structure. ([[Madame Blavatsky]] asserted that each of the floors was meant for a separate branch of learning .)''FROM THE CAVES AND JUNGLES OF HINDOSTAN'',H.P.Blavatsky. Urbana, Illinois (USA): Project Gutenberg.Etext #6687. 2004. p 265 There is a legend that an underground tunnel connects the palace at [[Golconda]] to Charminar to give the Qutb Shahi royal family an escape route should they need it during a siege. However, the exact location of the tunnel is unknown.
In 1591 while laying the foundation of Charminar, Quli prayed: ''Oh God, bestow unto this city peace and prosperity. Let millions of men of all castes, creeds and religions make it their abode. Like fishes in the water.'' True to the legend, the city blossomed into a synthesis of two cultures. ************************************************************ Please contact Shashi Mettu at + 00-91-98495-30995 for Prints / Enlargements and Busssiness enquiries *********************************************************** |
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"Lord Venkateshwara Temple in Tirupati is the best example of history, heritage and divinity preserved. Being an inseparable part of devotees lives for centuries, Tirupati Temple has grown from strength to strength and has become the most revered Hindu pilgrimage site in the world. Also crowned as the most visited and second richest worship place in the world, Tirupati Temple is one path to finding god."
The ancient and sacred temple of Sri Venkateswara is located on the seventh peak, Venkatachala (Venkata Hill) of the Tirupati Hill, and lies on the southern banks of Sri Swami Pushkarini. It is by the Lord's presidency over Venkatachala, that He has received the appellation, Venkateswara (Lord of the Venkata Hill). He is also called the Lord of the Seven Hills. The Temple of Sri Venkateswara has acquired unique sanctity in Indian religious lore. The Sastras, Puranas, Sthala Mahatyams and Alwar hymns unequivocally declare that, in the Kali Yuga, one can attain mukti, only by worshipping Venkata Nayaka or Sri Venkateswara. |
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An Airway beacon was a rotating light on a tower used for visual navigation by airplane pilots along a specified airway corridor. Approximately 1,500 Airway beacons were constructed, covering 18,000 miles (29,000 km) in the U.S. to guide pilots from city to city. Construction by the Post Office and the U.S. Department of Commerce occurred between 1923 and 1933. They were spaced 10 miles (16 km) apart and featured a 24 inch (610 mm) parabolic mirror and a 110-volt, 1000 watt lamp. In clear weather they could be seen for 40 miles (64 km). The beacons rotated at 6 rpm, creating a flash every 10 seconds for 1/10th second duration. The Saint Paul, Minnesota beacon sits on top of a 110 foot (34 m) steel tower in Indian Mounds Park. The Low Frequency Radio Range system began to replace this visual system in 1929. Ref: Wikipedia |
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Henry Chapman Mercer, an archaeologist, collector, and tile-maker, designed and built this six-story reinforced concrete structure to house his collection of tools and other everyday artifacts from pre-industrial America. Mercer chose concrete to protect his collection from fire; it is used in every aspect of the building's construction, right down to the window muntins. Completed in 1916, the museum today contains over 50,000 items and is open to the public.
This interior view portrays the grand scale of his unique building and collection: even the roof of this central chamber is used to store artifacts. http://www.mercermuseum.org/ NOTE: For optimal viewing, see this panorama in Google Earth, which minimizes the geometric distortion in the panoramic image. |
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This is a view from the fourth floor balcony of The Clove Hotel in Stonetown looking south towards St. Joseph's Cathedral, the Bagh Muharmi Mosque, and the House of Wonders. I thought the cross section of the nearby crumbling building was particularly interesting. |
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This shot was taken from fourth floor of the Clove Hotel in Zanzibar's Stone Town. Staying in Stone Town is a bit like going back in time. While tourism has had it's impact, the back streets, the Mosques, the Hindu Temples, the Persian baths, and the fantastic array of doors have changed very little. |
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Gigavision shot from 3pm on October 24, 2009. |
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between Cannon Beach and Seaside |
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This shot is just over 180 degrees looking west from The Clove Hotel in Stonetown. |